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Norfolk’s Kumo Judo Club
have added a new demographic to their talented ranks by introducing
a class for mums.
The flourishing club, who
nurtured the talents of British star Colin Oates onto the world
stage, now have mothers training alongside their daughters on
the mat.
Club coach Howard Oates,
father of Colin and highly-regarded British Judo coach David,
introduced the class after the club’s latest additions expressed
an interest in following their children onto the mat.
“We had players from the
local school training and their mums were watching and said they’d
like to try the sport in their own class,” he said.
“We had a slot available
and after a slow start we now have between 10 and 14 women on
the mat working alongside their daughters.”
Howard believes the sport’s
technical scheme has enticed the club’s latest additions to step
onto the mat. Since April 2008 the British Judo Association’s
grading system no longer requires a player to compete in order
to achieve their next grade with a theoretical approach now favoured.
“The main reason they’re
maintaining their interest is down to the theoretical grading
system,” he said.
“I have been able to give
them a goal; I can tell them that they can go all the way up to
Dan grade without having to fight people.
“I keep the sessions gentle
and totally theoretical, which has produced results. After only
five months participating in the sport we had five red belt gradings
in April.”
Howard, a widely respected
3rd Dan, believes the class could accommodate more numbers on
the mat and thinks the children are the key to retaining them.
“Numbers wise we can accommodate
another six or seven on the mat and they interest grows through
the children,” said the veteran judoka.
“Our women wouldn’t respond
to an advert. If we have a new player I’ll invite their mum to
come along and train. The mum’s interest and knowledge will rub
off on their daughters and vice versa.”
The much sought-after coach
added: “The women can also see a marked improvement in their fitness
and they feel better for engaging in a safe but challenging sport.”
Howard is hoping to encourage
the class’ ever-growing roster to at the kata version of the sport
which sees a pair or players or an individual perform an illustration
of flowing techniques and coordinated exchanges.
“I want to try and develop
them to have a go at and I’m hoping to do an event on October
or November time,” he said.
“We’ll have three different
mats and players can come along and choose what they want to do.
The women have all expressed an interest in the kata side of the
sport and I’d expect that as it focuses on technique.”
“The event is still to
be finalised as my schedule includes training and travelling with
Colin and our club players.”
Kumo Judo Club train at
Lopham Village Hall, Diss, IP22 2ND. Juniors train on a Monday
at 18:45 – 19:45 and on Wednesday at 18:00 – 19:00. Seniors train
on a Monday at 19:45 – 21:00 and on Wednesday at 20:00 – 21.00.
Women and girls train on Wednesday at 19:00 – 20:00.
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